Global Life Sciences Cluster Report 2011 - Jones Lang LaSalle

2.9%
R&D expenditure
(% of GDP, 2004)
Established cluster
Switzerland
3,436
Researchers in
R&D (per million
people, 2003)
Academic excellence, high-profile education programs and the high quality
of life render Switzerland not only very competitive in the global market for
life sciences talent, but increasingly at the entrepreneurial level too.
Overview
25.0%
High technology
exports (% overall
exports, 2009)
75 EMEA | Jones Lang LaSalle
11.3%
Total health
expenditure
(% of GDP, 2009)
Switzerland is one of Europe’s most established life sciences
locations. For the second year running, Switzerland was
rated number one in the World Economic Forum’s Global
Competitiveness Report 2010–2011, reflecting its advantages
for the life science industry and other research, production and
service companies. Switzerland is also a leader in education
and is one of the world’s most active countries in research.
The density of biotech companies in Switzerland is unparalleled
world-wide. Its life sciences companies range from large
multinational corporations such as Merck Serono, Novartis
and Roche to innovative start-ups.
The main clusters of life science activity can be found in Basel
(BioValley), Zurich (Greater Zurich Area) and in Geneva (BioAlps).
1
World economic
forum’s innovation
rank (out of 142)
There, the highly concentrated presence of the life sciences
industry, universities and government assistance for spin-offs
support the vibrant life sciences activities in these areas.
Aided by the proximity of top pharmaceutical companies such as
Roche and Novartis and by the strong financial sector in Zurich,
academic excellence in the biomedical sciences serves as a
motor for innovation in the biotech and medtech sector.
Joint activities of universities and private companies provide
favorable conditions for young start-up companies. Benefits such
as low-cost rental space at the university’s labs during the first
years and the availability of biotech parks and business incubators
in and around Zurich also support life sciences growth.
Tof C